US forced to shoot down ballistic missile after failed test launch

The US Air Force announced on the evening of November 1 that the test launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that morning had failed. The missile was shot down shortly afterwards.

According to the US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), the Minuteman III missile in the test was not carrying weapons and it was shot down on the morning of November 1, Pacific time. The decision to shoot down the missile was made after detecting abnormalities in the missile.

Minuteman III missile during a test by the US Air Force. (Photo: AFGSC)

However, the US military said the test still provided important data about the missile and that AFGSC always “learns lessons from each test launch” to ensure the “continued reliability and accuracy” of the Minuteman III system.

AFGSC said it will set up an analysis team to investigate the cause of the unusual incident.

Previously, on October 31, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder announced that the US was preparing to conduct a test launch of the Minuteman III missile to test and confirm the reliability of the US strategic nuclear deterrent system.

Last year, Washington canceled or postponed at least two ICBM tests, citing concerns about “misunderstandings” with Russia and China.

The LGM-30 Minuteman III missile has a range of 13,000 km and has been in service since the 1970s. It is part of the US nuclear deterrent triad, along with the Trident III missile on Ohio-class submarines and nuclear weapons on strategic bombers.

The US possesses about 450 Minuteman III missiles placed in silos scattered across the territory, along with about 3,800 warheads in combat status and 2,000 warheads in storage.

Each Minuteman III can carry one W87 warhead with a yield equivalent to 450,000 tons of TNT or three W78 warheads, each with a yield equivalent to 350,000 tons of TNT and capable of attacking separate targets.

The Minuteman III system is expected to be replaced by the LGM-35A Sentinel missile program, which is worth $264 billion, not including a new nuclear warhead. However, the Biden administration may reconsider this project due to the high cost and shift to modernizing the Minuteman III.

Tra Khanh (Source: russian.rt.com)

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